Follicular Dendritic Cells
Follicular Dendritic Cells (FDCs) have an intricate morphology (structure) (See Figure 1). These cells, which are located in lymphoid nodules (also referred to as "follicles"), have numerous dendrites or thin filiform processes at one point in their life cycles. In culture these dendrites intertwine with one another and form networks very similar to those in the lymph node or in the spleen in vivo[1] . The dendrites in the network bind immune complexes in a periodicity that is pivotal in the binding of immune complexes to B cells in the germinal centers[2][3]. This binding initiates a specific antibody response to antigens.
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ El Shikh Me, El Sayed RM, Tew, JG, Szakal AK (2007) Follicular Dendritic Cells stimulated by collagen type I develop dendrites and networks in vitro. Cell Tissue Res. 329:81-89
- ↑ Szakal AK, Hanna MG Jr (1968)The Ultrastructure of antigen localization and virus-like particles in mouse spleen germinal centers. Exp Mol Pathol 8:75-89
- ↑ Sukumar S, El Shikh ME, Tew JG, Szakal AK (2008) Ulatrastructural study of highly enriched follicular dendritic cells reveals their morphology and the periodicity of immune complex binding. Cell Tissue Res 332:89-99
External links
[edit | edit source]- FDC Network - An illustrated website based on scientific publications.